ATI Radeon X1950 PRO DUAL

The ATI Radeon X1950 PRO DUAL is a unique dual-GPU offering from AMD, built on the RV570 chip using the Ultra-Threaded SE architecture. Manufactured on TSMC's 80 nm process, this card integrates 312 million transistors on a 230 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 1.4M per mm². Released on January 9, 2007, it sits within the Radeon R500 PCIe generation as a successor to the Radeon R400 series, and has since been succeeded by the Radeon R600. The card holds a 50th percentile ranking against all GPUs, indicating it sits squarely in the middle of the performance spectrum for its era.

Benchmark Performance

The X1950 PRO DUAL's benchmark data presents a unique case, as its average benchmark score is recorded as 0, with no specific rival comparisons available in the nearestRivals field. This absence of direct comparative scores means the data cannot show exact percentage deltas against competing products. However, the 50th percentile ranking against all GPUs provides a meaningful anchor: this card performs better than roughly half of all GPUs ever benchmarked, and worse than the other half. This places it as a mid-range performer, not a flagship, but certainly not a low-end part.

Given the lack of benchmark scores, the performance analysis must rely on the card's architectural specifications. The X1950 PRO DUAL is equipped with 12 texture mapping units (TMUs) and 12 render output units (ROPs). These figures determine the card's pixel fill rate of 6.900 GPixel/s and its texture fill rate of 6.900 GTexel/s. These identical fill rates suggest a balanced architecture where pixel and texture throughput are equally matched, which is typical for a card of this generation. The data indicates that the card's processing capabilities are symmetrical, meaning it can handle pixel shading and texture mapping at the same rate without one becoming a bottleneck. This balance suggests consistent performance across various workloads, though the absence of FP32 or FP16 floating-point data means raw compute throughput cannot be quantified. The card's performance is therefore best understood as a mid-tier solution, capable of handling contemporary games at moderate settings, as suggested by its percentile position.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The X1950 PRO DUAL belongs to an era before dedicated ray tracing hardware existed. The FACT PACK lists no RT cores and no tensor cores, indicating that this card has no hardware acceleration for ray-traced lighting or AI-driven features like DLSS. Instead, the card's feature set is defined by its API support: it supports DirectX 9.0c (shader model 9_3) and OpenGL 2.1 with full support, alongside OpenGL 3.0 with only partial support. There is no Vulkan support listed.

This API configuration is significant for understanding the card's capabilities. DirectX 9.0c was the standard for gaming during the card's release period, meaning it can run all games from its contemporary era. The OpenGL 2.1 full support and OpenGL 3.0 partial support indicate that the card can handle most OpenGL applications of its time, though newer OpenGL 3.0 features may be limited. The absence of Vulkan support means the card cannot run modern titles that require this API. The lack of RT and tensor cores further confines the card to traditional rasterization workloads. The data shows a feature set that is complete for its historical period but entirely lacks modern acceleration technologies.

Memory Subsystem

The memory subsystem of the X1950 PRO DUAL is characterized by its 512 MB of GDDR3 memory, connected via a 256-bit bus. The memory runs at 690 MHz, translating to an effective data rate of 1380 Mbps. This configuration yields a total memory bandwidth of 44.16 GB/s. These numbers reveal a memory system that was competitive for its time, but modest by today's standards.

The 512 MB capacity is important for high-resolution gaming. At resolutions common during the card's lifetime, such as 1280x1024 or 1600x1200, 512 MB was sufficient for most textures and frame buffers. However, the 44.16 GB/s bandwidth is a limiting factor. The 256-bit bus width helps mitigate this, providing a wider path for data transfer than narrower buses of the same era. For high-resolution workloads, the data suggests that the bandwidth could become a bottleneck, particularly in texture-heavy scenes. The effective memory speed of 1380 Mbps is moderate, and when combined with the 256-bit bus, it produces a bandwidth figure that is adequate for 2007-era games but will struggle with higher resolutions and larger texture packs. The balance between capacity and bandwidth indicates a card designed for 1080p or lower gaming, where the 512 MB pool and 44.16 GB/s throughput can be fully utilized without starving the GPU.

How It Compares

The FACT PACK provides no nearestRivals data for the X1950 PRO DUAL, meaning there are no specific rival names, scores, or deltaPct values to analyze. This absence is notable, as it suggests the card occupies a niche position without direct competitors in the benchmark database. Without this data, any comparison must be inferred from the card's own specifications and percentile ranking.

The 50th percentile ranking places it in a neutral position, performing better than half of all GPUs. This implies that its rivals would be a mix of lower-end cards that it outperforms and higher-end cards that outperform it. For instance, cards with fewer TMUs or ROPs would likely score lower, while cards with more shading units or higher fill rates would score higher. However, without explicit data, these comparisons remain speculative. The card's single-slot design and 300 mm length suggest it was intended for enthusiasts with larger cases, but its performance class is firmly mid-range. The data indicates a product that competes on the basis of its dual-GPU configuration, but the lack of comparative benchmarks means its true standing against specific rivals cannot be quantified here. It is best understood as a balanced performer, neither leading nor trailing its class significantly.

Power and Cooling

The X1950 PRO DUAL has a thermal design power (TDP) of 130 W, which is a modest figure for a dual-GPU card. This power draw requires a suggested power supply unit of 300 W, which is relatively low for the performance class. The card is equipped with two 6-pin power connectors, indicating that it draws additional power beyond what the PCIe 1.0 x16 slot can provide. The slot itself is the older PCIe 1.0 standard, which delivers less power and bandwidth than modern PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 slots.

The 130 W TDP is notable because it is lower than many single-GPU flagship cards of the same era, despite having two GPUs. This suggests efficient power management by AMD, likely due to the 80 nm process node. The cooling solution is specified as a single-slot design, which is impressive given the dual-GPU layout. This means the card uses a blower-style cooler that exhausts heat out of the case, rather than a bulky dual-slot cooler. The 300 mm length (11.8 inches) is substantial, requiring a roomy case. The power connector requirement of two 6-pin connectors means the PSU must have adequate cable provisions. Overall, the power and cooling data indicates a card that is manageable in terms of power draw, but requires specific PSU and case considerations due to its length and connector needs.

Who Should Consider It

Based on the data, the ATI Radeon X1950 PRO DUAL is a card for users targeting the 50th percentile of GPU performance, meaning it handles mid-range workloads effectively. The 512 MB memory and 44.16 GB/s bandwidth make it suitable for gaming at resolutions around 1600x1200 or lower, where the memory pool and bandwidth are sufficient. The pixel fill rate of 6.900 GPixel/s and texture fill rate of 6.900 GTexel/s indicate that it can render scenes with moderate complexity without significant slowdown.

The card's feature set, limited to DirectX 9.0c and partial OpenGL 3.0, means it is best suited for games released up to around 2007. Users playing older titles or those with low system requirements will find the performance adequate. The 130 W TDP and 300 W PSU requirement make it accessible for systems with modest power supplies, but the two 6-pin connectors must be available. The single-slot design is an advantage for users with limited expansion space, though the 300 mm length requires a full-sized case. This card is not intended for modern gaming at high settings, as the lack of Vulkan support and RT cores preclude it from running contemporary titles effectively. It is, however, a viable option for retro gaming or as a secondary display adapter, given its dual DVI and S-Video outputs. Ultimately, the data suggests this card fits users who want a period-appropriate mid-range performer without the need for cutting-edge features.